Galway seek ‘proper embrace’ in Leinster

Anthony Cunningham called for Galway to be ‘embraced properly into Leinster’ and to be allowed to play Championship games at Pearse Stadium after seeing another opportunity to play at home passed up by the Leinster Council.

Under normal circumstances, drawing with Dublin at Croke Park would mean home advantage for the replay but instead of Pearse Stadium next weekend, Galway will travel to Tullamore.

It’s a well worn trip from various ties there against Kilkenny since entering the Leinster championship though manager Cunningham believes it’s high time Galway were afforded full home comforts in their own county.

“Look, I’m not going to make a massive issue of it but we do need to have a home and away situation in Leinster,” said Cunningham. “I suppose we need to be embraced properly into Leinster.

“Galway need Championship hurling in Galway. It’s something for the future but it’s something I thought might have happened by now.

“The Galway hurling public have always travelled to matches so, to be fair to those loyal supporters, I think they’d welcome that opportunity of a home game.”

It remains to be seen if experienced centre back Iarla Tannian is fit for the trip to O’Connor Park. Cunningham was slightly vague when he said the player suffered ‘a touch of concussion’ following a heavy shoulder to the head that Ryan O’Dwyer was fortunate to only get a booking for.

Tannian was eventually substituted and if he did suffer any concussion medical advice would suggest he shouldn’t be involved next weekend.

“Just a touch of concussion,” said Cunningham of Tannian’s condition. “It was quite a tough blow to the head. The medics will assess that but he’s fine.”

As for the outcome, Cunningham accepted Galway were perhaps luckiest to escape with the draw. “Always in a draw, if you get the last point, you’re delighted to get it,” he said of Aidan Harte’s 70th minute leveller. “At the same time, we found ourselves two points down from having been in a strong position earlier.

“We would have been disappointed with that. We left some scores there, some wides and some ones we should have got. But, all in all, I think it was a fair result so we’re delighted to be getting a second crack. At this time of the year, that’s a bonus.

“Because a match like that, that really is worth a month’s training.”